Bronze Casting

13. 'Knocking out' the bronze

Once cold, the mould is broken open and the
raw cast sculpture gradually revealed.

14. Jet washing the unsettled bronze

The bronze cast is jet washed to remove all particles of the ceramic
mould.

15. Rough fettling the bronze:

The long and patient task of chasing or metal
working the sculpture begins. Cracks that filled with bronze are
chiselled off, the runners and risers removed, holes filled with
welded metal and texture punched back where relevant.

16. Bronze chasing

This stage often takes as long again as all
the previous stages and calls for good concentration and sensitivity
while filing and brazing. The whole sculpture has to be made good,
to the same state as the original.

17. Patinating

The final process once the chasing is completed,
is patination. This is the chemical colouring of the surface of
the bronze, using oxidising agents either to oxidise the copper
in the bronze or to leave an oxide of another metal bound to the
surface of the sculpture. The range of colours is extensive but
often varies in detail from one cast to another due to the nature
of patination. Some of the more delicate patinations are only
suitable for smaller indoor sculpture, and a range of colours
that change little or are enhanced by natural environmental chemicals
are applied to outdoor pieces. The method is to stipple the chemical
onto the metal and then aim a hot flame at that area which bonds
the colour.

18. Polishing and waxing

Once the desired colour has been achieved
a protective coat of wax is applied to the surface and then buffed
up.